Meta-analyses of quality clinical trials support Hypericum 's place in the treatment of depression. Effectiveness is comparable with standard antidepressants, while adverse events are lower than with conventional antidepressants.

A flowering plant, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) was named because the bright yellow flowers were said to bloom for the first time around St. John the Baptist's birthday.The word "wort" means "plant" in Old English.

St. John’s wort, also known as hypericum perforatum, is a flowering plant of the genus Hypericum and has been used as a medicinal herb for its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties for over 2,000 years. The Greek physicians of the first century recommended the use of St. John’s wort for its medicinal value, and the ancients believed that the plant had mystical and protective ...